Review Blog

Nov 15 2016

We found a hat by Jon Klassen

Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406347517
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Sharing. Problem solving. Humour. Two
turtles find a hat. They try on the hat in turns and find that it
looks good on both of them. But there are two of them and only one
hat. They decide that the best thing to do is to leave the hat,
because it would not be right if one has a hat and the other does
not. But their eyes tell a different story. As they watch the sunset
together they find their thoughts and eyes are drawn back to the hat
on the ground behind them. Later going to sleep, their eyes remain
open, watching the hat. When one falls asleep the other creeps
towards the hat, asking the other what he is thinking. He tells his
friend that he is dreaming of them both wearing the hat. Each has a
hat in his dream and the other turtle, satisfied that this solves
the problem, falls asleep beside his friend.
Readers will know that this solution satisfies both turtles, that
the hat which loomed as a problem between them has been reduced in
its significance and they are content. Their eyes are closed and
they sleep.
Divided into three chapters, Finding the Hat, Watching the Sunset
and Going to Sleep, children will love reading each section as the
story unfolds, offering possible solutions to the problem. The
wonderful sepia illustrations with pages of single colour against
which the turtles and hat, are initially shown as small figures
within the panorama of the desert. But as the problem looms, the
figures become larger, almost filling the pages.
But the eyes tell the story of trust, of friendship, of longing, of
teetering on the path of deception, of coming together as friends
again - themes which could be discussed with a group of children
either in a class, group or at home.
The third in a series of books about a hat, I want my
hat back (2011) and This
is not my hat (2012) this book will be equally well
received, its charming style, infectious humour and instantly
recognisable themes making it a book kids and adults will pick up to
read and share.
Fran Knight